Spring lift for stoopers



. E. s. WILLIAMSON. SPRiNG LIFT FOR STOOPERS. APPLIICATIQN HLED IAN- 28. 1920.

Patented M r. 14,1922.

IN VENT/.71; 15. WILLIAMSON P75. 4

kin.

' isrsme mrr rorl 'sroomriils. j;

Be t known that I, ERNEsr ilVILLIeiW- s0N,'t subj.ect of'Great Britain, residing at Melbourne, Australia, have invented new anduseful' Improvements inSpring Lifts for Stoopers,-"of which the followlng s a specificationn Y This inventionrela'tes to a spring'li-ftor. balancede'vice which when worn by laborers and other persons whose work necessitates their repeated bending over or's'too'ping-,will" relieve'thestrain on the muscles exercised in bendingover, 'stooping and raising the bod-y to erect position and assist in the raising ofthe-bodyyallyto the end that 'the wearer ma'y'work with greater rapiditm'ease, comfort, and accomplishmentwithouttiring so quickly as ordinarily.

An object of the invention isto provide a device of the character described, Whichis constructed so-thatthe wearer assumes a sitting position in' comfort without J neces-' sitati'ng removing the device; j 1

TheinVentioii possesses other advantages and features, soine' of which; with the forehave-selected for illustration in the draw in'gs-faccompanying and forminga pa'rt' of the present specification. In sa d drawings- I have shown one form of the construction o'f iny invention but it is, to be understood that I do not limit myself'tosuch form;

since the invention as expressedin the claims maybe embodied in ztpluralit Referring tothe drawings Figureil is a perspective view showing theinvention 'as it"would appear when in use Figure 2 is a perspective View ofthe de-':

vice, removed. 1 H I Figure 3 isa detail fragmentary plan view of the'hinge and .lockiri fied form of the invention. Figure kiis "a fragmentary side elevation of'theforrn in 'gFigureBW In carrying out my inventi'on provide ail-elongated;stiffspring or resilient body member adapted-to be "flexed" intermediate of its endssndt'o be worn-in uprightiposh tion' on: the back; the :lendsiheing: connected the body nearitheishoul'ders end-the lower {position .7 r This springbody member attached asde scribed to the "wearer- Itogeth'er with other" 7. features of thejY-devi e suCh as. the novel 'v I means'of connecting' the body memberjwith" y'of forms. i

- light sheet metal.

so thatwhen thewe'arerbends' overor Stoops tendency :to return to normal position aids p x pr e lyiiii hfi eeip i th l- 1 7 tion "this spring body member by! '.its.,:

the*musclesrend'fllessexertion off musculerq thebody or the wearer arid the details or constructiorii of said" bodyimember 'itself 'g means 'ofconnectionbetween the deviceianjd; '7

- a tool-'suchas a s hovelorpi k' he by. tiin g,

0n" the arms is relieved, andhead rest means" which iielievesneck 'strai'HscOnsti tute esf-l I B en-i gest the present embodim t of 8 5" v I thev nmone asparticularlyillustrated ifn ithe I a ccrom pzinyl ngdrawings' l designates -the elongatedresilient forf spring" Zbojdy I I I I sential"featuresiof thi'siinventionf going will be set forth at length in 'the following description? where Ish'all outline-in; full; that form of the 1 invention which T of-the device Whichisedziptd*td'ibe were? on the back of the}u ser iIi,"u'prightposition 'and is" sufliciently long to 'jperrnit if {its be-Q in'g connected with "theibody. =fi1t its-upper end adjacent the shoulders" and lo e I end adjacent the knee's.'--

extensions '4 and 5 2 and extensions 4' and- 5 is proportioned preferably so that th i 'p .vv 4II Will extend from the waistline toa po'int between the shoulder-blades of -the wearer' i v and so. that itheylower extension 5 will ex tend from ,a point adjacentthe'seat of'the knees; The resilientportion or springs may be .coverediwithclothasfat 5". i the spring portion; extendingfrom the waist I line-to a point below the seat of the-trousers a with the upperend lowerpalrts o'frthe body whereby when the 'vvezirer sto'ops or bends 1,trousers ldownwardly' to ra' point adjacent the:

This leaves forwardly the springswillfco nformto the curve of thebodyredjacent'the seat of the ,tro1'1ser's'.-r However-I,theset'proportions may This fj body member 'ctfin prises 1 ilifif-QP 1 central 'portioncons'isti'ng offialt leaf s ring v 2 mounted one uponth'e other andf'bolted loosely as a133, at 'theirfends 'to'flatri'gid 1 preferably formed of" The leng f e' P e T be varied as desired. By having a loose connection between the springs andextensions I ingfthe lowerextensioniii of'the body mem her with the lower part of the,bo,dy preferably one leg at the knee'. This means corn formed of any snitablematerial'and is conf a I the wearer, at thenpper part of the chest,

as a series of "openings lii'at'one endwherebyprises a cup shaped knee cape which may be nectedi by prefe1' aloly .fieiiible straps, 7 with the lower endfofgthe extension 5. The cap 6 partially.surrounds the leg at the knee and knee and'through aslot 8 in thelower end of the exten sion i. A suitable fastening 9 is provided to secure the straps in position.

Means for connecting the upper extension 4 withthelupperpart of the body is provided and may comprise a cross piecelOislidably mounted on the. extension slightly be f low the upper end thereofand held inplace by a set screw 11. This crosspiece is adapted to extend across' thefback between the shoulderiblades of 'thewearer-j and. is connected with abreast plate, 12 by straps 13,. The straps 13extend over the shoulders and be of any suitable material provided they support the breastplate so as toengage Straps 14: aresecured to the ends of the piece lO and to the; ends of the breast plate 12 being adaptedgto, extend through thearm.

pits. of the strapsl is provided with it may] be. adj ustably secured upon a fasten 1ng,16;.on one end of the breast plates 12 upon the'wearer. 5

of the extensions. inany suitablemanner and is disposed'so. as. toengage'thefforerelievethe strain-'on.. the "neck muscles and I rest them.gTh1s rest comprises a curved padded band 18adapted?to engage the forehead' and sides of the: head of the wearer and whichis securedfby' straps 19,.to the upper end. of the extension 4.

Tolessen andremovestrains on the arm occasionedwhen using ajshovel, spade, or like'implem'ent I- providefa' flexible eonnec tion, a' wire. QO Which has a hook 21fon one The hook end and a: pulley '22 on. the other. 21" hooks-into an 'eye 23 on the breastplate l2 and thepulley ridesunder a'taut wire 2% -secured on the handle-25-&of the implement fr 26 shown in Figure 7 The length of'this connection 'or wire '20is determined by the tor ;to relarrthe, arms, using-them onlyito the straps 7 extend on bot'h sides f the a. Th providesfor adjustmentjof; the plateslO and one end.

balance the shovel, while the "element or wire 2O supports approximately all of the weigh-toftheishovel whenthe latter is filled.

Thus in raising the body to toss or dump the c'ontentsof'the shovel the spring body member in returningto'normal position assists the arms ofthe operator in lifting thefshoveL To. putonthe device, the shoulder straps are first slipped overthe head, and onto the shoulders so asto bring the body member 1 on the back,' the cross piece 10between the V 1 are thenyfastened to secure the upper portion of the device to the body. Thehea d restwill then assume its operative position with the band in engagement with the foreinggandthen-secnred in place. The device springs are arranged to exertisay' for example an lb; pullwhen so flexed. Thus the wearer will bebalanced in stooped posi;

'tion and will not have to exercise those mus cles. ordinarily used to support and balance thebody in this position.

v Asjthe body. is bent or stooped largely by gravitationv when.

head. The knee cap is next fitted upon the knee 'oftheleg to be put foremost in'worka person leans forward, little or no exertion is required to flex the springs, The wearer in raising to upright position will be assisted by; the action of the springs returning to normal. position and, thus need: not exercise; thegmus clessuch. 'as ordinarily used, to their 1 ';full v extent- 1 The connectionbetween the L 7 breast ;plate; and implement; relieves arm n strain as described and the head rest-relieves 1. i V .neckstrains. Thus itrvvill 'be seenthatra A head rest l-Tjis' secured to thef upper. end,

workmanequipped withmyadevice will not "tire. as easily and" can 'doq more work? more .comfortably and easily.

WVhile a, person when wearingthe device" maysitdown without difi icultyl to lessen-:the

effort required forsitting down I provide asshown-in Figures 3and4 a hinge-27inrendering the springs inoperative I employ means in the form of a detentuorlockingc member 29 pivoted-as at-3O t'o oneside of the hinge and provided with a cross piece 3]. at

curvedas M32 and adapted to extend-under.

.a keeper 33 when locking'the springs-against hinge action. Flexible elements 34am con- The other'end: of this member is 'nected with fthe cross piece [31 and provide .7

for operating the memberl29itornove ittintm I andwout ofpositio na These elementsM may. i be secured or: 1 carriedyon the-body- "of the length ofthe arms andrthe character of the wearer in any convenient manner.'-

The'we'arei of. the fdevice 'may kneel as would be required 11]: carrying out certain work and in'thisinstance thelower end of the extension, 5 will rest upon the ground so lieved.

Iclai'm' 1. 1. In a'device of her comprising a resilient intermediate por-.

tion worn upon the back so that its ex tremitiesare disposed adjacentto the waist. line and seat of the/trousers, rigid non bendable extensions secured to the extremities of the resilient portion, the free end of said extensions being adapted to lie adjacent the back of the shoulders andbacks.

of the knees of the wearer of the device and means for connecting'the said free ends with the body of the wearer adjacent the knees and shoulders. i

' adapted to be worn upon the back of a erson a bod @member com risin leaf springs with their extremities disposed adj acent the waist line and seat of the trousers,

respectively, non-bendable, rigidextensions secured to the ends of'the springs, means for securing one'ot the extensions toone leg of the wearer adjacent the knee, a cross piece on the other extension and adapted to lie upon the back of the wearer adjacent the shoulder blades, a breast plate adapted to engage the breast ofthewearer and means of connection between the cross piece and breast plate extending. under the arms :of the wearer.-

3. In a device of the character described adapted to be worn upon the'back of a persoma body :member comprising 'lea'f springs with their ends disposed at points opposite the waist line and seat of the trousers, non-bendable extensions rigidly se cured to the ends of the springs, means for securing one, of the extensions to one leg of the wearer ad acent the knee, a cross piece,

on the other extension and adapted to lie upon the back of the wearer adjacent the shoulder blades,1a breast plate adapted to .engage the breast of the wearer and means of connection between the cross piece and breast plate extending'under thearmsof'the wearer, and straps connecting the breast plate and cross piece and extending over the shoulders of the wearer. r

4:. In a deviceof the character described a resilient body member adapted to be worn upon the back and to be flexed in the bending or stooping of a person wearing the device, means for connecting the upper end of the body member with the body of the wearer adjacent the shoulders and means for attaching the lower end of the body member;

with one leg of the wearer and a head rest the greases-embed, a normally substantially straightbody mem connected with the body -'member and dis posed to engage the forehead of the we'arera o. In %a :dev'ice of the character described,

a; normally-substantially straightbodymember comprising 5a -"resilient intermediate j porit on', rigid extens ons secured-"toilthe le xtremitiesoftheresilient portion, theatres-1 end of said 'fextremities'being 'Sadaptedto lie adjacent theback' of theshoulders and ,backs: of the knees of the wearer of the device and meansifor connecting the said free 6. In a device of the character described a resilient body member adapted to be worn ing or stooping of a person wearin'g tjhe device, means for connecting the upper end V of the body member with the body of the 2. In a device of thecharacter described wearer adjacent the shoulders and means the knees and shoulders, and acurved head, 7

upon the back and to be flexed in the b'endfor attaching the lower end of the body 7 member with one leg of the wearer, a hinge for saidzbody memberintermediate the ends thereof and means for locking the body.

member against movement on its hinge. 7. In a device of the characterdescribed,

a normally substantially straight body memlie' adj aceiltthe back of the shoulders and ber comprising a resilient intermediate portion, rigid extensions secured to the ex-' tremities of the resilient portion, the free "end of said extremitiesbeingadapted to backs ofthe knees offthe wearerof the] device and 'means tor connecting the said free ends with the bodyof the wearer adf jacent the knees and shoulders, a hingeffor: said resilient portion intermediate the ends thereof, and a member lockingfsaid hinge against operation and unlockingfsaid hinge;

8. In a device of the character described the combination with an implement or tool I adapted i to be held "by thewearer of the device of a resilient body-member, adapted to beworn on the back and to flex when the wearer stoops 'or'bends over, means for securing the ends of the :body member to the body of the wearer, theshoulders and knees, respectively, and a flexible element secured to the means for securing the body implementi or too part of the body of the'wearer and to. one leg of the wearer.

member to the upper portion andto said 1 fiex'ed when the wearer stoops 0r bends over,-

elongated extensiens rigidly secured-to the I free ends of 'said body portion, meansfor 1 10. In a device-0f the character described,

an 7 elongated resilientebendable body portion adapted to be Worn upon the back with its extremities adjacent the waistline and-seat 0f":thetr0 users. of the wearer and to be ERNEST s. WILLIAMSON, 7 

